Broker agent sites

webmaster · 02-04-2008, 12:52 AM

As REW IDX coverage grows we have encountered more and more of these MLS boards that do not allow third party IDX options or agents to have their own custom IDX - typically the agents have 2 options - either Iframe in the public MLS search from the board, or iframe in the brokers IDX solution.

Now in many cases we are the provider of the broker IDX solution, so are also the provider if the iframe (NWMLS in Washington state is a good example of this)

This presents a good opportunity for us in the sense that since they are using REW IDX already, they could benefit greatly from having us provide their websites as well.

So what I am going to be offering, is what I have tentatively called the "broker agent template" - basically it is one standard REW template custom designed to match the broker branding (Colors, etc) which will mean the iframe for these agents fits perfectly in with their website. This also presents more opportunities for seamless integration between their iframe IDX and their backend (Something that is impossible to achieve with third party)

For each agent site, we change their phone number, picture that sort of thing. And provide them with a tutorial on content production and of course also a link to the REW forums should they desire to learn how to take their websites to the next level.

My question to agents is - how would you feel about using a broker branded template (Assuming there was no setup fee, and you could have it customized if you wanted to) - Would the fact that it is brokerage branded (RE/Max for example) stop you from wanting to use it?

In designing these things, I want to make sure they are easily launched per agent (We are giving them away, so can't really allow for much customization) but I don't want the creative to be so heavily branded that it is a turn off for agents to want to choose it as their preferred option. But in the same token, the more broker branded it is, the easier time I will likely have getting the broker to help promote the sites as the preferred option to their agents.

Thoughts?

Morristown · 02-04-2008, 06:19 AM

what a issue to have, I guess what you are offering in these cases is the best of a not so good situation.

I still do not understand what these MLS's think they are saving us from by putting up such rules.

Micheal Pannell Realtor · 06:27 AM

Is this only for agents that cant get IDxs or for Brokers that have agents that need need copied websites.

I think it is a great idea, You would have alot of agent sites out there and be able to get alot of extra custom work.

It would be a great hiring tool to be able to give an agent a free websites, it would also help brand the company. Would these free sites have links to the broker sites. I think they should.

BTW, i need another special on website to happen in about a month, I need to buy a few more, lol

jessiesc · 02-04-2008, 07:31 AM

I think it's a great idea!

Feel free to start with jennifermacky.com so I can get her exact idx on pccommercialrealestate.com

Micheal Pannell Realtor · 02-04-2008, 07:44 AM

I am guess all the leads would come to the Broker Lead ssytem. Would there be a way to tel where they came from. I would want my agents to get credit

AaronSOLD · 02-04-2008, 08:30 AM

On a broker that has 30+ agents, maybe you could do 2 templates so that they've got some choice... my guess is that you'll be paid the monthly hosting fee from each agent so giving them a couple of choices increases the perceived value.

Branding should be apparent but not own the page, but some newer agents may want to stress the company more.

I agree with Micheal about the leads... that's the biggest potential benefit and the most important thing to explain clearly.

kensmith · 02-04-2008, 11:09 AM

Morgan you are asking the wrong group IMO. Most of us understand we need to brand ourselves, but most agent out there don't get that. This would be a very basic website that would get them online, from there they can grow into something that is custom. Think that you should test it in a few offices and see the response.

Remember most agents either have no web presence or one that is a online business card. This would at least be an upgrade from that.

webmaster · 02-04-2008, 03:04 PM

Testing is already under way - My good buddy Jim Olenbush has offered to give some websites away to his agents - So we will see how it is received.

At Jessie -
#1 - you aren't a broker are you?
#2 - each agent does not get a built in IDX, they get an iframe of the brokers custom IDX which is set up at the time of creating the brokers custom IDX - it is not our search engine friendly IDX, nor can agents use snippets etc, as the IDX is not part of their system.

At Michael regarding leads - absolutely we would want to make sure agents get credit for the leads - should be pretty simple actually - the first step is the broker setting up the agent a profile in the backend - once it is set up, in the iframe URL we could just pass a variable that set a cookie on the broker site so the agent is automatically assigned the lead when they register - each agent iframe URL would look something like netries.rewidx.com/nuhomesource/?agentname

Micheal Pannell Realtor · 02-04-2008, 03:54 PM

I would like to be next in testing, I have 5 agents and just hired 3 more. So if you want another tester please ask me.

coastal · 02-05-2008, 07:35 AM

I've got to agree with Ken.

The web is about branding ourselves as something special, if we are just another page of a brokers site we are nothing special. As others mentioned who gets the leads if the sites are all intertwined?

Also who gets credit for the SEO work? Maybe one agent really pushes the envelope with blog content and marketing. Maybe this SEO work gets clients to the site but then the client "accidentally" clicks a link to another section of the brokers site and ends up buying from a different agent.

The broker is happy all the way around because of more sales but the individual agents may get the shaft.

I think you may find that the cutest girl agent in the office will end up getting all of the leads, which leads me to ask the question of Brokers who currently have brokers sites, Do the cute girls get more web hits than the old frumppy grandparents? I have to admit given the choice I almost always click on the cute woman agent.

This is all just my opinion and could be way off base. But as a semi-smart web agent I would not be happy being just another page at my brokers site.

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